Elsevier and the Friedrich-Althoff Consortium Collaborate to Create "Archive of Berlin" as a Basis for a Common Research Infrastructure

BERLIN, April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Agreement between Elsevier and the three key universities of Berlin and the Charité creates a common literature infrastructure to strengthen Berlin as a central research location 

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, has announced its collaboration with Berlin's Charité, the Humboldt University (Humboldt-Universität), the Free University of Berlin (Freie Universität) and the Technical University of Berlin (Technische Universität), all part of the Friedrich-Althoff Consortium, to create a comprehensive digital scientific literature infrastructure, "Archive of Berlin", aimed to further strengthen Berlin as a central location for research.

Through the agreement, all four universities will have access to ScienceDirect, granting them access to more than 2000 scientific publications of Elsevier. As part of the agreement, all participants can decide for which titles they would like to purchase permanent archival rights for once the contract has ended. A new and particularly interesting aspect of the contract is the option of combining these access rights into a shared access archive.

This customized agreement takes into consideration the needs of all four institutions and simultaneously fulfills the Friedrich-Althoff Consortium's objectives. This consortium unites scientific institutions within the region of Berlin/Brandenburg in order to provide their users with scientific information from electronic publications online.

"We are very proud to be working together with the universities of Berlin and the Charité, supporting them in developing such a comprehensive digital archive - an initiative that is unique to Germany and one which will further advance research," said Jörg Limberg, VP Europe, Research Solutions, Elsevier. "The creation of an 'Archive of Berlin' is a milestone that has the potential to be expanded in the future - even beyond the borders of Berlin. At the same time, it is an example of how we always aim to offer customized solutions for institutes and universities."

About Elsevier 

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of information solutions that enhance the performance of science, health, and technology professionals, empowering them to make better decisions, deliver better care, and sometimes make groundbreaking discoveries that advance the boundaries of knowledge and human progress. Elsevier provides web-based, digital solutions - among them ScienceDirect, Scopus, Elsevier Research Intelligence and ClinicalKey - and publishes over 2,500 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and more than 33,000 book titles, including a number of iconic reference works. Elsevier is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries. http://www.elsevier.com

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